Track-obstacle and coutrolling mechanism therefor



G. W. GERLACH.

- TRACK OBSTACLE AND CONTROLtl-NG MECHANISM THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I, I9l9.

Patented July 22-, 1919;

fave/rich gerzack PATEN ouuion.

GEORG w. GER'LACH, or CUMBERLAND, IOWA.

TRACK-OBSTACLE AND CONTRO LLINGdl/IECHANTSM rHEaiiroR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 22, 1919.

Original applieation filed May 26, 1917; Serial No. 171,217. Divided and this application filed March 1, 1919.

Serial No.

To all whomz't may concern: a

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. 'GERLACH, citizen of the United States, residing at Cumberland, in the countyofCass and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Obstacles and Controlling Mechanism Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved track obstacle and controlling mechanism therefor particularly designed for use in connection with the locomotive equipment for block signal systems as illustrated and described inmy pending application filed May 26, 1917, Serial No. 171,217, the present invention being a division of that application. l

The invention has as its salient object to provide a track obstacle of simplified construction without sacrificing any of the efficiency thereof.

The drawing shows a combined perspective and diagrammatic view of the present invention.

In carrying the invention into effect, I employ a supporting base 10 which may be mounted adjacent to one of the rails 11 of a track and which carries upwardly directed standards 12 arranged in spaced parallel relation. Journaled upon the standards is a shaft 13 which is either a continuation of the armature shaft of an electric motor l-i or is coupled to such shaft to turn therewith. The motor is mounted upon the base 10 adjacent one of the standards 12. Fixed to the shaft 13 between the standards 12 are spaced cross pieces 15 which support, at their lower ends, a preferably cylindrical trip or obstacle 16 and at their upper ends a correspondingly formed counterweight 17 A stop 18 projecting from the base serves to limit turning of the shaft 13 in a clockwise direction due to the action of the motor 14 and to hold the trip and the counterweight in such a manner that the counterweight is off center so that when the motor is deenergized, the counterweight will swing downwardly to swing the trip upwardly and inwardly toward the track. A second stop 19 serves to check this turning movement when .the trip 16 and counterweight 17 have reached a common horizontaLplane. The stop 19 is, as shown, integrally formed on the end of the shaft remote from the motor 14;, the end portionof the shaft being, at the outer side of the adjacent standard 12, first bent laterally to form a crank arm and, at

the outer end of this arm being 2 again bent j the motor, said trip will project in the path of the switch blade.

A wire 20 leads from one binding post of the motorl l to a battery or other suitable source of electric energy 21 and a wire 22 leads from the other binding post of the motor to a swingingly mounted switch blade 23 which is supported by the post or standard 24 of a semaphore 25. A wire26 leads .from the battery 21 to the fixed contact 27 which cooperates with the contact blade or switch 23. The semaphore blade 28 is connected by a link 29 with a lever arm 30 pivoted upon the standard 24 adjacent the switch blade 23 and a link 31 pivotally connects the lever 30 and blade 23. One end of this lever 30 carries a counterweight 32 and its opposite end is engaged by the crank arm 33 of an electric motor at. l/Vires 35 lead from this motor to a suitable track controlling system of such a character that under normal safe track conditions the motor 34L is energized and will act through its arm 33 to hold the lever 30 in the position shown. Under these circumstances the semaphore blade indicates a clear condition of the track and the switch formed by the switch blade 23 and contact 27 is closed so that the motor 14 is energized and the trip or obstacle is held in inactive position. If, however, the motor 34 is deenergized the weight 32 will swing the lever 30 to raise the semaphore blade and to open the circuit of the motor 14 at the switch so that the trip will be swung to active position. A stop 36 may, if desired, be secured to the standard 24: to check this latter swinging movement of the lever.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A track obstacle and controllin mechanism therefor including a revolub e shaft, a contact operatively connected with said shaft, gravity actuated means operatively connected with the shaft and tending to swing the contact to active position, stop means carried by the shaft for limiting the contact in its movement to active position, and means operatively connected with said shaft for normally holding the contact in inactive position.

2. A track obstacle and controlling mechanism therefor including spaced standards, a shaft revoluble thereon, a contact operatively connected with said shaft, gravity actuated means operatively connected With the shaft and tending to swing the contact to active position, stop means carried by the shaft to cooperate with one of said standards for limiting the contact in its movement to active position, and means operatively connected with said shaft for normally holding the contact in inactive position.

3. A track obstacle and controlling mech anism therefor including spaced standards, a shaft revoluble thereon, a contact operatively connected with the shaft, gravity actuated means normally tending to swing the contact to active position, a stop integrally formed on one end of said shaft to cooperate with one of said standards for limiting the contact in its movement to active position, and means operatively connected with said shaft for normally holding the contact in inactive position.

4:. A track obstacle and controlling mechanism therefor including spaced standards, a shaft revoluble thereon, a contact operatively connected with said shaft, gravity actuated means normally tending to swing the contact to active position, the shaft being extended at one end to provide a crank and being bent at the outer end of said crank to form a stop adapted to cooperate with one of said standards for limiting the contact in its movement to active position,

and means operatively connected with said I shaft for normally holding the contact in inactive position. I

5. A track obstacle and controlling mechanism therefor including a revoluble shaft, a contact operatively connected with said shaft, gravity actuated means normally tending to swing the contact to active position, means carried by one end of the shaft for limiting the contact in its movement to active position, and means connected with the opposite end of said shaft for normally holding the contact in inactive position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

enoecn w. GERLACH. 1,. 8.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of ratents, Washington, D. 0. 

